Tiltable rotary power-driven workholding unity



Sept. 24, 1946. H. A. SKILTON 2,408,231

TILTABLE ROTARY POWER-DRIVEN WORK-HOLDING UNIT Filed April 10, 1945 4Sheets-Sheet l lNVENTOR HARRY A. Smrron 1 'ATTOR/VEY-S Sept. 24, 1946.H. A. SKILTON 2,403,231

'I'IL'I'ABLE ROTARY POWER-DRIVEN WORK-HOLDING UNIT Filed April 10, 1945Y 4 Sheets-SheetZ \INIVENTOR '-HARRYA.5K|LT0- 3,

Arrow/mars.

. p z4, 1-946. H. A. SKILTON 2,408,231

TILTABLE ROTARY POWER-DRIVEN WORK-HOLDING UNIT Filed April 10, 1945 4Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 24, 1946 I UNITED STATE TILTABLE ROTARY POWER-DRIVENWORK- HOLDING UNIT 1 Harry'A Q Skilton, Watertown, Conn.Application'April 10, 1945, Serial No. 587,529

' 13 Claims. (01. 51-237 The present invention relates to work-holdingunits and relates more particularly to. workholding units of a typewherein a table or' other I j Fig.- is a broken horizontal sectionalview work-carrying member is rotatable about a given I axis of rotationand in which the said'axis of rotation is tiltable.

Thework-holding units of the present invention are primarily designed tohold dies and to turn the same topermit the ready and convenientpolishing of their cavities, protuberances, etc, though-available forother uses. 7 7

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a' superiortiltable rotary' powerdriven work-holding unit having its axis ofTotation tiltable or changeable in position to thus enable work to beturned in the desired path. I

Another object of the present invention is to andarranged that thepower-drive for the tiltable work-carrying member may be readilydisconnected to permitmanual rotation of the said member when desired.I. a I

- Still another objector the presentinvention is to provide a'superiorwork-holding unit of the type referred to and in which the work-carryingmember may be automatically locked against rotation by the shutting-offof the driving-power.

, With the above and other objects in 'view, as

taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4; and

Fi 6 is a similar view but taken on the line 6- B of Fig. 4,, I

The' particular work-holding unit herein chosen for purposes of'makingclear a, preferred I form of the present invention, includes among itsmain features 'a base III, a tubular standard I I, a mounting-yokegenerally designated by the reference character I2, and awork-holdingtable I3.

The tubular standard II is arranged vertically and has its lowerend-firmly anchored in the base It and'issurmounted at its upper endbythe mounting-yoke I2. The saidmounting-yoke includes acentrally-depending-stem I I which is entered into the interior of theupper end of the tubular standard II and may-be rigidly secured thereinin any suitable manner; The mountingyoke I2 also includes twoupwardly-extending willv appear to those skilled in the artfrom thepresent disclosure, this invention includes allfe'a- Y tures in the saiddisclosure which arenovel over v Fig. 3 is a broken vertical sectionalView on an enlarged'scale and taken on the line 3 3 of Fig.2; Fig. 4 isa broken vertical sectionalviewon an enlarged scale and taken on theline"4 4 of Fig. 1;

laterally-spaced-apart arms I5 and Ilirespectively provided :at theirupper ends with horizontal bearing passages l1 and I8.

Mounted respectively in the bearing-passages I1 and I8 above referredto, are the tubular trunnions I9 and 20 of a-bearing-head generallydesignated by the reference character 2 I.- v The said tubular'trunnionsl9. and 20;are axially aligned with each other but project outwardlyfrom the respective opposite sides bf the said bearinghead 2I.as isespecially well shown in Figs. 3 and 5. I

r The said. tubular trunnions I9 and 20 are axiallyzin-line with eachother and respectively project outwardly. from the opposite ends of aluglike trunnion-portion 22 of the said bearing-head 2 I.; Thesaidbearing-head also includes a tubular spindle-portion 23 formed integralwith the said trunnion-portion: 22 but having its axis extending at aright angle with-respect to the axes of the tubular trunnions I9 and 20.Bearing in the spindle-portion of the bearing-head 2| with capacityfor'rotation therein, is a work-carryingspindle 24 f0rmedat its upperend with an. externally-threaded stem 25 onto which the disk-likeWork-holding table l3 is the .lower portion of a "cap .28 forming a clo-I sure for the other otherwise-open lower end of the hollow interior ofthe spindle-portion 23 of the bearing-head 2|. The said cap is formedwith an integral upwardly-extending annular-flange 29 having its outerperiphery snugly fitting the interior of the spindle-portion 23, as isshown in Figs. 4 and 6.

The internal diameter of the sleeve-like flange 29 of the cap 28 issufficiently larger than the external diameter of the lower portion ofspindle 24 as to be able to accommodate within it a bushing 30. In itsupper edge the bushing 30 is formed with two radial clearance-notches;3'l3|' respectively located at diametrically-opposite points in thebushing 33 and intersecting the upper edge thereof.

The clearance-notches 3|'3'| in the bushing 30 are adapted torespectively receive the opposite ends of a bar-like coupling-key 32which extends lengthwise through a diametrical-passage 33 formed in thelower-portion of the spindle 24. The said passage 33 has a verticalextent but slightly less than double the vertical extent of thecoupling-key 32 for the purpose of permitting the saidcoupling-key to bebodily moved vertically, for purposes as will hereinafter appear.

Resting upon the upper edge of the bushing 39 is the lower edge of a hub34 formed integral with and depending from a wormwhea 35. The unitconsisting of tnesaid worm-wheel 35 and its hub 34 is formed with anaxial bearing-passage which fits the periphery of the spindle 24 withfreedom for rotation 're1ative thereto and for purposes as willhereinafter appear; The hub 34 is formed in its lower edge with tworadial and downwardly-opening coupling-notches or recesses 36 35respectively located at diametrically-opposite points and adapted toreceive the respective opposite ends of the coupling-key 32. forpurposes as will hereinafter appear.

The worm-wheel 35 meshes with and is driven by a worm 31 extendinghorizontally in the trunmien-portion 22 of the bearing-head 2|, as isespecially well shown in Figs. 3, f1 and 5. Respectively extendingoutwardly from the opposite ends of the worm 3? are stub-shafts 38 and39 both forming a rigid feature of the said worm and arranged coaxiallywith respect thereto. The stub-shafts 38 and 39 respectively turn in theinteriors of the tubular tfurinions l9 and 20 of the bearing-head 2|. y

The outer end of the stub-shaft 39 of the worm 37 has rigidly mountedthereona V'-belt pulley M which may have a plurality of grooves thereinrespectively of different diameters and which is adapted to receive av-belt ll which serves to drive the said pu ley 40 and hence also todrive the worm 31. The lower-portion of the V-belt 4| extends around aV-belt pulley which may also have a plurality of grooves of differentdiameters respectively and which is mounted upon and driven by thedrive-shaft 43 of an electric motor 44. The said electric motor 44 issupported on the upper surface of a motor-bracket 4'5 adjacent the outerend thereof. The said motorbracket is formed at its innerlend with atubularportion 45 through which the lower-portion of the tubularstandard extends. The said motor-bracket 45 may, if desired; bevertically adjusted on the standard to suitably regulate the tension ofthe V-belt 4| or its equivalent.

The tubular trunnion I9 of the bearing-head 2| projects axially beyondthe arm l of the mounting-yoke l2 and is externally threaded as at 41 tothreadedly receive a lock-nut 48. The

said lock-nut is provided with a rigid radiallyextending arm 49 whichlatter terminates at its outer end in a ball-grip 5B.

Returning now to the bar-like coupling-key 32 which extendsdiametrically Within the spindleportion 23 of the bearing-head 2|, itwill be noted by reference to Fig. 4 in particular, that the said keyhas centrally threaded into it, the upper end of an operating-plunger 5|which is mounted for reciprocation lengthwise of itself axially in thelower-portion of the spindle 24. The lower-portion of the saidoperating-plunger extends below the lower end of the spindle 24 and isprovided with a handle 52 which is accommodated partly or wholly withinthe space between the vertical arms I5 and I6 of the normally-stationarymounting-yoke i2, dependent upon the position to which the entirebearing-head 2| is tilted.

For the purpose of yieldingly holding the operating-plunger 5| in eitherone of two vertical positions, the said operating-plunger is formed inits periphery with two annular detent-grooves respectively designated bythe reference characters 53 and 54.. The said detent-grooves arealternately adapted to receive a ball-'detent 55 mounted in aradial-passage 56- formed in the lower-portion of the spindle 24, as isshown in Fig, 4. The said ball-detent is urged toward theoperating-plunger 5| by a helical detent-spring 51.

The bearing-head 2| is. preferably formed with a rearwardly-extendingintegral arm 58 projecting through the space between the comp'lementalarms |5 and I6 of the mounting-yoke l2. At its rear end the said arm 58has the upper end of a rod 59 rigidly coupled to it. Mounted on the rodwith capacity for vertical adjustment is a counterweight 6!), forpurposes aswill hereinafter appear.

Encircling the upper-portion of the tubular standard H is the hub 6|forming an integral feature of a radially-extending bracket 62 uponwhich may be conveniently mounted a suitable motor-driven flexible-shaftunit (not shown) to be utilized for grinding or polishing such dies asmay be secured to the upper face of the work holding table l3 beforereferred to.

Operation For purposes of description, let it be assumed that thecoupling-key 32 is in its lowermost position as shown in Fig. 4 and thatthe electric motor 44 is energized,

Under th above described conditions the motor 44 through theintermediary of the V-belt 4|, pulley 4i! and stub-shaft 39, turn theworm 31. The worm 31 will drive the worm-wheel 35 which under theseconditions will turn loosely on the work-carrying spindle .24, inasmuchas the coupling-key 32 is disengaged from the couplingnotches 3636 inthe hub 34 of the said wormwheel.

Should it now be desired to drive the workholding table l3, thecoupling-key 32 may be shifted upwardly into the coupling-notches 36-36in the hub 34, by pressing upwardly upon the handle 52 of theoperating-plunger 5|. As soon as the coupling-key 32 enters the saidcoupling-notches 3B36, it will be coupled to and driven by theworm-wheel 35 and since it extends through the diametrical passage 33-the said coupling-key will in turn drive the spindle 24 and hence alsothe table l3. Thus a die or other article secured to the upper surfaceof the table |3 may be turned while being polished, dressed or otherwiseoperated upon.

Should it be desired to tilt the table l3 so as to cause the same torotate about an inclined axis, thelock-nut 48 on the tubular trunnion IQof the bearing-head 2|, may be loosened. Following this operation theentire bearing-head 2| may be turned about the worm as a center duringwhich operation the tubular trunnions l9 and will turn respectively inthebearing-passages l1 and [8 of the mounting-yoke I2. After thebearinghead 2| and the parts carried thereby have been tilted into thedesired position, the lock-nut 48 may again be tightened by means of itsarm 49 whereupon the new setting of the said bearinghead may be fixed.During the tilting of the bearing-head and the parts carried thereby,

the counterweight 60 carried-by its arm 58 and rod 59 will, when thesaid counterweight is properly adjusted,- render the said bearing-headand parts carried thereby sufliciently stable so that the sam will notof their own weight materially tend to shift,

Now should it he desired for anyreason to lock the table i3 againstrotation while a special operation is being performed, all that isrequired is to stop the electric motor 44 whereupon the self-lockingengagement between the'worm-wheel and the worm 31 will serve thispurpose. Should it be desired to leave the work-holding table l3 freefor manual rotation, all that is required to effect this result is tolower the coupling-key 32 into the position in which it is shown in Fig.4, to thereby uncouple the spindle 24 from the worm-wheel 35. Theuncoupling just referred to, may be achieved whether or not theworm-wheel 35 is at the time being driven.

The invention may be carried out in other specific ways than thoseherein set forth without departing from the spirit and essentialcharacteristics of the invention, and the present embodimeritsare,'therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and notrestrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalencyrange of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.

I claim: 4 1. A tiltable rotary power-driven work-holding unit,including in combination: a support having a bearing; a tiltablebearing-head having a tubular trunnion mounted for oscillation inthebearing'of the said support; a first gear-member carried by the saidbearing-head adjacent the inner end of its said tubular trunnion;drivemeans projecting through the tubular trunnion of the saidbearing-head and connected to the said first gear-member for driving thesame; a workcarrying spindle mounted in the said bearinghead forrotation about an axis disposed at an angle with respect'to the axis ofthe tubular trunnion of the bearing-head; a second gearmember alsocarried by the said bearing-head and .the said tubular trunnion.

inner end of its said tubular trunnion; drivemeans projecting throughthe tubular trunnion of the said bearing-head and connected to the saidfirst gear-member for driving th same; a substantially-verticalwork-carrying spindle mounted in the said bearing-head for rotationabout an axis disposed at substantiallya right angle with respect to theaxis of the tubular trunnion of the bearing-head; a second gearmemberalso carried by the saidbearing-head and meshing with the said firstgear-member; and releasable coupling-means operatively interposedbetween thesaid drive-means and the said substantially-vertical spindleto selectively connect and disconnect the same; the said bearinghead,second gear-member and work-carrying spindle being jointly tiltableabout the axis of 3. A tiltable rotary power-driven work-holding unit,including in combination: 'a support having two axially-spaced-apartbearings; a tiltable bearing-head having two 'axially-spaced-aparttubular trunnions respectively mounted for cscillation in the bearingsof the said support; a first gear-member carried by the said bearingheadand located intermediate the respective inner ends of the tubulartrunnions thereof; drivemeans projecting through one Of the tubulartrunnions of the said bearing-head and connected to the said firstgear-member for driving the same; a spindle mounted in the saidbearinghead for rotation about an axis disposed at an angle with respectto the axes of the tubular trunnions of the bearing-head; a secondgearmember also carried by the said bearing-head and meshing with thesaid first gear-member; and releasable coupling-means operativelyinterposed between the said drive-means and the said spindle toselectively connect and disconnect the same; the said bearing-head,second gear-member and work-carrying spindle being jointly tiltableaboutthe axes of the two said tubular trunnions.

meshing with the said first gear-member; and releasable coupling-meansoperatively interposed between the said drive-means and the said spindleto selectively connect and disconnect the same; the said bearing-head,second gear-mem ber and work-carrying spindl being jointly tiltableabout the axis of the said tubular trunnion.

2; A tiltable rotary power-driven work-holding unit, including incombination: a support having a substantially-hormonal bearing; atiltable bearing-head having a tubular trunnion mounted for oscillationin the substantially horizontal bearing of the said support; a firstgear-member carried bythe said bearing-head adjacent the 4. A tiltablerotary power-driven work-holding unit, including incombination: asupport having two axially-spaced-apart substantially-horizontalbearings; a tiltable bearing-head having two axially-spaced-aparttubular trunnions respectively mounted for oscillation in thesubstantially-horizontal bearings of the said support; a firstgear-member carried by the said bearinghead and located intermediate therespective inner ends of the tubular trunnions thereof; drivemeansprojecting through one of the tubular trunnions of the said bearing-headand connected tothe said first gear-member for driving the same asubstantially-vertical work-carryin spindle mounted in the saidbearing-head for rotation about an axis disposed at substantially aright angle with respect to the axes of the said tubular trunnions; 'a'second gear-member also carried by the said bearing-head and meshingwith the said first gear-member, the said second gear-member beingoperatively associated with the said substantially-vertical spindle forturning the'same; and releasable coupling-means op 'eratively interposedbetween the said drivethe axes of the two said tubular trunnions.

5; Atiltable rotary power-driven work-holding unit, includingincombination: asupport having a bearing; a tiltable bearing-head having atubular trunnion mounted for oscillation in the bearing of the saidsupport; a worm carried by the said bearing-head adjacent the inner endof its said tubular trunnion; drive-means projecting through the tubulartrunnion of the said bearing-head and connected to the said worm fordriving the same; a work-carrying spindle mounted in the saidbearing-head for rotation about an axis disposed to one side of and atan angle with respect to the axis of the tubular trunnion of thebearing-head in non-intersecting relationship thereto; and a Worm-wheelalso carried by the said bearing-head and meshing with the said worm,the said worm-wheel being operatively associated with the said spindlefor turning the same; the said bearing-head, worm-Wheel andwork-carrying spindle being jointly tiltable about the axis of the saidtubular trunnion.

6. A tiltable rotary power-driven work-holding unit, including incombination: a support having a bearing; a tiltable bearing-head havinga tubular trunnion mounted for oscillation in the bearing of the saidsupport; a worm carried by the said bearing-head adjacent the inner endof its said tubular trunnion; drive-means projecting through the tubulartrunnion of the said bearing-head and connected to the said worm-wheelfor driving the same; a work-carrying spindle mounted in the saidbearing-head for rotation about an axis disposed at an angle withrespect to the axis of the tubular trunnion of the bearing-head; aworm-wheel also carried by the said bearing-head and meshing with thesaid worm; and releasable coupling-means operatively interposed betweenthe said drive-means and the said spindle to selectively connect anddisconnect the same; the said bearing-head, worm-wheel and work-carryingspindle being jointly tiltable about the axis of the said tubulartrunnion.

7. A tiltable rotary power-driven work-holding unit, including incombination: a support having a substantially-horizontal bearing; atiltable bearing-head having a tubular trunnion mounted for oscillationin the substantially-horizontal bearing of the said support; a wormcarried by the said bearing-head adjacent the inner end of its saidtubular trunnion; drive-means projecting through the tubular trunnion ofthe said bearinghead and connected to the said worm for driving thesame; a substantially-vertical work-carrying spindle mounted in the saidbearing-head for rotation about an axis disposed to one side of and atsubstantially a right angle with respect to the axis of the tubulartrunnion of the bearing-head in non-intersecting relationship thereto;and a worm-wheel also carried by the said bearing-head and meshing withthe said worm, the said wormwheel being operatively associated with thesaid substantially-vertical spindle for turning the same; the saidbearing-head, worm-wheel and work-carrying spindle being jointlytiltable about the axis of the said tubular trunnion. I

8. A tilta'ble rotary power-driven work-holding unit, including incombination: a, support having a substantially-horizontal bearing; atiltable bearing-head having a tubular trunnion mounted for oscillationin the substantially-horizontal bearing of the said support; a wormcarried by the said bearing-head adjacent the inner end of its saidtubular trunnion; drive-means projecting through the tubular trunnion ofthe said bearing-head and connected to the said worm for driving thesame; a, substantially-vertical workcarrying spindle mounted in thesaidbearinghead for rotation about an axis disposedto one ,respect to'theaxis of the tubular trunnion of the bearing-head in non-intersectingrelationship thereto; a worm-wheel also carried by the said bearing-headand meshing with the said worm; and releasable coupling-meansoperatively interposed between the said drive-means and the saidsubstantially-vertical spindle to selectively connect and disconnect thesame; the said bearing-h ad, worm-wheel and work-carrying spindle beingjointly tiltable about the axis of the said tubular trunnion.

9.- A tiltable rotary power-driven work-holding unit, including incombination: a support having two axially-spaced-apart bearings; atiltable bearing-head having two axially-spaced-apart tubular trunnionsrespectively mounted for oscillation'in the bearings of the saidsupport; a worm carried by the said bearing-head and locatedintermediate the respective inner ends of the tubular trunnions thereof;drive-means pro- .jectingthrough one of the tubular trunnions of thesaid bearing-head and connected to the said worm for driving the same; awork-carrying spindie mounted in the said bearing-head for rotationabout an axis disposed to one side of and at an angle with respect tothe axes of the tubular trunnions of the bearing-head innon-intersecting relationship thereto; and a worm-wheel also carried bythe said bearing-head and meshingwith the said worm, the said worm-wheelbeing operatively associated with the said spin" die for turning thesame; the said bearing-head, Worm-wheel and work-carrying spindle beingjointly tiltable about the axes of the two said tubular trunnions.

10. A tiltable rotary power-driven Work-holding unit, including incombination: a support having two axially-spaced-apart bearings; atiltable bearing-head having two axially-spacedapart tubular trunnionsrespectively mounted for oscillation in the bearings of the saidsupport; a worm carried by the said bearing-head and locatedintermediate the respective inner ends of the tubular trunnions thereof;drive-means projecting through one of the tubular trunnions of the saidbearing-head and connected to the said worm for driving the same; aspindle mounted in the said bearing-head for rotation about an axidisposed at an angle with respect to the axes of the tubular trunnionsof the bearinghead; a worm-wheel also carried by the said bearing-headand meshing with the said worm; and releasable coupling-meansoperatively interposed between the said drive-means and the said spindleto selectively connect and disconnect the same; the said bearing-head,worm-wheel and Work-carrying spindle being jointly tiltable about theaxes of the two said tubular trunnions.

11. A tiltable rotary power-driven work-holding unit, including incombination: a support having two axially-spaced-apartsubstantiallyhorizontal bearings; a tiltable bearing-head having twoaxially-spaced-apart tubular trunnions respectively mounted foroscillation in the substantially-horizontal bearings of the saidsupport; a worm carried by the-said bearing-head and locatedintermediate the respective inner ends of the tubular trunnions thereof;drivemeans projecting through one of the tubular trunnions of the saidbearing-head and connected to the said worm for driving the same; asubstantially vertical work carrying spindle mounted in the :saidbearing-head for rotation about an axis disposed to one side of and atsubstantially a right angle with respect to the axes of the said tubulartrunnions in non-intersecting relationship thereto; and a worm-wheelalso carried by the said bearing-head and meshing with the said warm,the said worm-wheel being operatively associated with the saidsubstantiallyvertical spindle for turning the same; the saidbearing-head, worIn-Wheel and work-carrying spindle being jointlytiltable about the axes of the two said tubular trunnions.

12. A tiltable rotary power-driven work-hold ing unit, including incombination: a support having two axially-spaced-apartsubstantiallyhorizontal bearings;-a tiltable bearing-head having twoaxially-spaced-apart tubular trunnions respectively mounted foroscillation in the substantially-horizontal bearings of the said sup'port; a worm carried by the said bearing-head and located intermediatethe respectiveinner ends of the tubular trunnions thereof; drivemeansprojecting through one of the tubular trunnions of the saidbearing-headand connected to the said worm' for'driving the same; a subsaidsubstantially-vertical spindle to selectively connect and disconnect thesame; the said bearing-head, Worm-wheel and work-carrying spin- .dlebeing jointlytiltable about the axes of the two said tubular trunnions.v

13. A tiltable rotary power-driven work-holding unit, including incombination: a support having a bearing; a tiltable bearing-head havinga tubular trunnion mounted for oscillation in the bearing of the saidsupport; a first gearmember carried by the said bearing-head adjacentthe inner end of its said tubular trunnion; drive-means projectingthrough the tubular trunnion of the said bearing-head and connectedtothe said first gear-member for driving the same; a Work-carryingspindle mounted in the said bearing-head for rotation about an axisdisposed at an angle with respect to the axis of the tubular trunnion ofthe hearing-head, the said spindle being formed with a transversekey-receiving passage; a second gear-member encircling the said spindleand meshing with the said first gear-member, the said second gear-memberbeing formed with a key-receiving notch; and a transverse coupling-keyextending transversely through the said spindle and movable in adirection paralleling the axis of the said spindle into and out of thekey-receiving notch in the said second gear-member to respectivelycouple and uncouple the said second gear-member from the v said spindle.

HARRY A. SKILTON.

